►Mythology: “Psychopomps, Border Crossers and Guiders of Souls”🌟:

⇒♦ Introduction. Definition of Psychopomp and Sketch of this post:

A Psychopomp is a god, spirit, or demon who is responsible for guiding the spirits of the dead on their journey to the underworld. His role is not to judge the deceased, but simply to provide safe passage. The word comes from the Greek ψυχοπομπός, which means “conductor of souls.” Psycho– (ψυχο) originally meant “of, or relating to the soul,” while pomps (πομπός) meant “guide” or “conductor.”

Classical examples of a Psychopomp are the ancient Egyptian god Anubis, the Greek ferryman Charon, Hermes and Hecate, the Roman god Mercury (equivalent: Hermes in Greek Mythology) and Archangel Gabriel in the Catholic religion, to name the most important ones.

Firstly, in the first section (I), let´s look at some examples of Psychopomps in Mythology.

By the ending of the post (section II), I´ll outline with Carl Jung´s ideas concerning “Psychopomp”. I´ll say here in advance that, according to Jung, the figure of the Psychopomp acts not only as a bridge between Life and Death, It is also an intermediary between Conscious and the Unconscious, necessarily but not exclusively fostered thanks to the perfect Integration of Anima (each man´s feminine nature) and Animus (each woman´s male principle) in the form of the “Self”.

I.⇒♦Some Examples of Psychopomps in Mythology:

1.⇒♦Anubis:

Egyptian God Anubis.

He was originally an egyptian god of the Underworld, but became associated specifically with the embalming process and funeral rites.

He was usually depicted as a canine or a man with a canine head. He was often presented in black, a color that symbolized both rebirth and the discoloration of the corpse after embalming.

One of his most important roles was as a god who ushered souls into the afterlife. He was tasked with guiding souls to Duat, the Egyptian underworld, where they would be judged according to their lives. Under Anubis’ supervision, their hearts were weighed against a feather representing truth.

If their hearts were lighter than the feather, they were allowed to continue on. If their hearts were “too heavy with sins”, Anubis would give it to Ammit, a demon known as the “Devourer of the Dead”, who would consume it.

In the Ptolemaic period (350–30 BC), when Egypt became a Hellenistic kingdom ruled by Greek pharaohs, Anubis was merged with the Greek god Hermes, becoming Hermanubis. The two gods were considered similar because they both guided souls to the afterlife.

Statue of Anubis as a black-coated wolf (from the Tomb of Tutankhamun)

Anubis, the God associated with mummification and the afterlife in ancient Egypt

The egyptian dog-jackal god, Anubis.

Statue of Anubis as a black-coated wolf (from the Tomb of Tutankhamun)

God Anubis , Guide into the Ancient Egyptian Afterlife.

2.⇒♦Thoth:

In ancient Egypt, Thoth created script. Besides, he was connected with the Moon and thus considered the Ruler of the Night.

Hermes Trismegistus may be a representation of the syncretic combination of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth, egyptian God of Knowledge. Hence, the two gods were worshipped as one in what had been the Temple of Thoth in Khemnu, which the Greeks called Hermopolis.

The Egyptian God Thoth, ruler of the Night.

Thoth, Psychopomp and ruler of the Night.

Thoth, Guider of Souls.

The Egyptian god and psychopomp Thoth, in the form of an ibis.

Thoth, Psychopom and ruler of the Night.

Thoth, Egyptian Psychopomp.

3.⇒♦Hermes:

Among Ancient Greeks, God Hermeshad many attributes and represented many things. Hermes was the Olympian god of herds and flocks, travellers and hospitality, roads and trade, thievery and cunning, heralds and diplomacy, astronomy and astrology. He was also a god of science and wisdom, art, speech, eloquence. And, most importantly: “the God of Writing”.

Furthermore, he was the herald and personal messenger of Zeus, and also the guide of the dead who led souls down into the underworld. This last job required the fleet-footed Hermes to be able to traverse between worlds with ease, which probably explains why he’s also the god of border crossings. It was also his job to lead the souls of the dead to the entrance of Hades, where they waited for Charon to pick them up. Hermes was the only Olympian god able to visit Heaven, Earth, and Hades, a fact he enjoyed bragging about to the other gods.

“Hermes”, by W. B. Richmond. From “The magazine of art” vol. 9, 1886.

Herems statue. Classical Period.

Head of Hermes. Archaic Period.

Roman Bronze Figure of Hermes, circa 2nd Century A.D.

Border Crosser Hermes (Or Mercury) by Augustin Pajou. 1780.

Statue of Hermes/Mercury. Roman copy. 200 AD.

4.⇒♦Charon:

Charon was the ferryman of the dead, an underworld daimon (spirit) in the service of Hades. He received the shades of the dead from Hermes, who gathered them from the upper world and guided them to the shores of River Acheron.

Unlike many other Psychopomps, Charon did not do this for free; he required a donation to be given to him.

The fee for his service was a single obol, a coin a silver coin worth a sixth of a drachma, which was placed in the mouth of a corpse at burial (It was known as Charon´s obol).

People who are unable to pay the fee were doomed to wander the shores of the river for a hundred years.

Since most Greeks, understandably, did not want to wander in the mists and marshes, they buried their dead with coins to pay the ferryman; this tradition is still retained in many parts of Greece.

5.⇒♦Hecate:

Hecate was the Greek Goddess of Crossroads, Magic, Witchcraft, The Night, Ghosts and Necromancy.

She was sometimes portrayed as wearing a glowing headdress of stars, while in other legends she was described as a “Phosphorescent Angel” of the Underworld.

Hecate’s magic was that of death and the underworld, but also of oracles, of herbs and poisons, protection and guidance.

Her torches provided light in the darkness, much like the Moon and Stars do at night, taking the seeker on a journey of initiation, guiding them as the psychopomp, like she guided Persephone on her yearly journey to and from Hades.

Hecate’sretinue included the souls of those who died before their time, particularly children, or who were killed by force.

As she was the goddess of purifications and expiations, she was usually accompanied by Stygian dogs, from Hades’ domains.Dogs were closely associated with Hecate in the Classical world. In art and in literature Hecate is constantly represented as dog-shaped or as accompanied by a dog. Besides, her approach was heralded by the howling of a dog.

Hecateion, little votive column to Hecate who is surrounded by three dancing Charites. Attica, ca. 3rd century BC. Glyptothek, Munich.

Hecate from Pergamon Altar, Berlin.

Statuette of triple-bodied Hekate and the three Graces Period: Hellenistic.

Hecate, the Goddess of Crossroads.

Hecate, depicted in triple form.

Hecate, the “Phosphorescent Angel”, in triple form

Statue of Hecate at the RMO Museum, Leiden.

“Hecate: Procession to a Witches’ Sabbath” by Jusepe de Ribera (17th century).

6.⇒♦Thanatos:

Thanatos was the Ancient Greek personification of Death. He was a minor figure, usually depicted as a winged youth, carrying a sword. Besides, he was is almost universally shown with his brother, Hypnos, the God of Sleep.

Thanatos was regarded as merciless and indiscriminate, hated by – and hateful towards — mortals and gods alike.

According to Sigmund Freud, humans have a Life/Love instinct—which he named “Eros“—and a Death drive, which is commonly called “Thanatos”. This postulated “Thanatos instinct” or “Death Drive” allegedly compels humans to engage in risky and self-destructive acts that could lead to their own death.

Thanatos, God of Death and Psychopomp.

Hypnos, Greek God Of Sleep.

Hypnos and Thanatos: Sleep and His Half-Brother Death, by John William Waterhouse, 1874.

II.⇒♦Carl Jung´s Concept of “Psychopomp”:

The Perfect Integration between Anima (Eros) and Animus (Logos):

In Jungian psychology, the Psychopomp is a mediator between the Unconscious and Conscious realms.

Carl Jung used the word to refer to a psychic factor that mediated between the conscious and the unconscious. This might be personified in dreams and myths as a God/Goddesses, or even as an animal. The raven, for example, is seen in Celtic folklore to be a Psychopomp, and is a role that peeps out in Edgar Allan Poe´s poem “The Raven”. One specific mythological character is The Morrigan, a female figure from Irish mythology. She was associated with sovereignty, prophecy, war, and death on the battlefield. And, she often appeared in the form of a crow, flying above the warriors.

Back to the word “Psychopomp”,Jung didn´t alter the meaning of the original Greek word.

Anima and Animus.

But, he instead added the concepts of Anima and Animus, as the ultimate connectors between the individual soul and purpose.

Jung clarifies that he uses Eros and Logos merely as conceptual aids to describe the fact that woman´s consciousness is characterized more by the connective quality of Eros than by the discrimination and cognition associated with Logos. While, in men, Eros (the function of relationship) is usually less developed than Logos.

Jung says: “When Yang had reached its greatest strength, the dark power of Yin is born within its depths, for night begins at midday when Yang breaks up and begins to change into Yin”. (Carl Yung, CW 13. Alchemical Studies. P. 13)

The union of Anima and Animus, for Jung, is the Self; and, in symbolic terms: the Psychopomp as mediator between the Conscious and the Unconscious.

According to Jung, the Anima and Animus are the guardians of the threshold, because they are the bridge to the Unconscious. Through understanding projection, the opposites in the Anima/Animus complex can be united, ultimately releasing these forces to act as mediators between the Conscious and Unconscious standpoints.

This integration or union of opposites is symbolized by the Psychopomp, the main archetype of the Self.

The Self is defined by Jung as: “The totality of the Conscious and Unconscious Psyche”. (Carl Jung, CW 12, P. 247). Jung describes the Self as a perfect circumference: “The Self is not only the centre, but also the whole circumference which embraces both Conscious and Unconscious; it is the centre of this totality, just as the ego is the Centre of Consciousness. (Carl Jung. “Memories, dreams and reflections”, Page 398).

As to the Psychopomp, Carl Jung says:

“For the Animus (Logos) when on his way, on his quest, is really a Psychopomps, leading the soul to the stars whence it came… On the way back out of the existence in the flesh, the Psychopomp develops such a cosmic aspect, he wanders among the constellations, he leads the soul over the rainbow bridge into the blossoming fields of the stars”. (Carl Jung, Visions Seminar, Page 1229).

This is a special section in which I will display all the awards I have received during 2017. To simplify, I will follow the same rules for all the awards as otherwise I wouldn´t be able to do it … 😉 Meaning: 1. Thank the blogger who have nominated you. 2. Display the logo on your blog. 3. Nominate at least 7 bloggers for each award and tell them about the nomination. As I often do, I will nominate bloggers who have previously nominated me for other awards, favorite bloggers, new followers and bloggers who have recently liked my posts. Please, know these choices are quite random, I am sorry I couldn´t include everyone! 😇 … As to my nominees, I will link back to one of their newest posts as an easier way to inform them about the nomination. If you have been nominated and want to follow along the nomination process, you´ll find your respective award in the gallery below, as the slideshare goes, click on it and save it (see award, per number). If you are a Free Award Blog, all is fine: just take this mention as a shout-out. 😀

1♦Thank you very much Baattyaboutbooks for bestowing me with the Blogger Recognition Award.

My choices for Shehanne´s “Music that Means Something, Challenge” (9♦) will be exclusively Lana del Rey´s songs. Lana is great. She often tells us a story, and to a certain extent we can all relate to her “characters”. Her songs often refer to summer memories, art, detachment, loneliness, random lovers, Love as an Ideal; self discovery and freedom… 😌

406 Responses

What an engaging post: the density takes a slow read, but worth it. Inclusion of Jung was a surprise, and added another layer to the overall story. Then you give us the brilliant songs of LDR. Enjoyed it all.

Just when I think your posts cannot reach further heights you amaze me once again dear Aquileana. It is not surprising to find that the custom of paying the overseers to other worlds is still in practice. The correlations to the Philosophy of Freud and the ideas of Jung are interesting in relation to such beliefs. Your musical offerings are spectacular. Love Lana and as a “biker ” my favorite song of hers has got to be Ride. Thank you for the fantastic links. I hope everything in your world is going beautifully. Take care dear friend. Thank you once again for this intriguing journey into the world of Greek Gods, Hermes a favorite of mine! 🙂 ❤

Thank you very much for your comment dear Holly… I am delighted to know that you enjoyed the post…. Mentioning Jung and Freud in the same post might be “polemic” (to say the least)… But here we are, anyway 😀 😉 Good to know that you enjoyed those theorical twists as I especially liked writing those parts. Hermes is my favorite psychopomp and he is among my favorite Gods too… Oh!: “Ride”, really?. I´d say it is my anthem… The thing is it is a song I have know for quite a while, so right now I am more into the unreleased songs, which I haven´t listened to that much… But “Ride” is unique. I remember crying with the monologue… And: It still strikes me, mind you… Much love & best wishes to you, my friend ❤ 🙂

It’s ok to challenge ideas dear Aquileana, not polemic in the true sense but food for thought. An outstanding text, images, and information beautifully integrated! Thank you so much for all the work and research that goes into your posts. Re Lana, I feel she doesn’t get the credit she deserves. A favorite of mine is “High on the Beach” where I think she expresses her frustration with the lack of fair publicity she received. It is beautiful if you you haven’t heard it, I recommend it. Take care and have a beautiful weekend ! ❤

I absolutely love “High by the beach”.. It is an amazing song… and so is the video (I love when she blows up the helicopter, from her balcony: epic!). Your are right, I think she still doesn´t get the recognition she deserves. But her last album was a good strike, though… especially the song “Love”. Many hugs and best wishes, my friend. Have a beautiful week ahead 😀 ❤

Hi Aquileana. It’s great to see you back in the blogosphere! This is a truly fascinating post. It’s also perfectly Halloween-ish for me. 😀 I learned more about Hecate, whom I *thought* I knew. You’re a great teacher. Hmmm… I wonder if Hecate visits frequently, since the neighbor’s dog is always howling… 😉 Hugs on the wing! ❤

Thanks so much dear Teagan. You are right: it seems appropiate for Halloween. I´d love to dress up like Hecate, now that you mention it! And yes, I hear You… apparently Hecate seems to like my neighborhood as well… Hugs & best wishes to you! 😀

Hi there dear Luisa,
My pleasure to nominate you: you totally deserve it…
If you want to pass the award to other blogger, you should:
1. Thank the blogger who have nominated you. (in this case: me!)
2. Display the logo on your blog. The logo for your award is this one: https://aquileana.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/bcbs.jpg (click on the link and save it, then add it to your eventual post)
3. Finally you have to Nominate at least 7 bloggers for the award tell them about the nomination (you can leave a comment on their blogs, or link back to any of their posts).
Hope this is clear to you… Un abbraccio! 😀

There were no questions for your particular award…. Quite surely, yes for other awards. In any case; I often do all awards of the year in one post and follow my own rules, all same rules for every award… I don´t think people will take it bad. Otherwise, I just couldn´t be able to do it: it will take me ages! 😀 xx

I know, right!?. It is a dense subject to say the least… But those psychopomps were good spirits, we need to keep that in mind, anyway… Thank you for dropping in, dear Marina… I hoep that you have a wonderful weekend, my friend. Hugs 😀

Wow! Thank You! Thank You! Your post is indeed enaging. Not one dull moment as would be expected for lengthy post. You are awesome.
Ps: thank you for the excellent info on the deities from Greek mythology. Fascinated with them.

Beautifully detailed and interesting article. I especially enjoyed the examination of Jung’s stance within his Analytical Psychology framework of the role of psychopomp. He is not some one I am all that familiar with and, I think, a much misunderstood thinker tarnished by his association with Nazi ideology.

Thank you dear Paul… I wasn´t aware of Jung being somehow involved with the Nazi Party… Heidegger is one of mu favourite philosophers and his role in this “political sense” was more than questionable. It was a very complex time of History for both sides, if you know what I mean, and being far to justify any involment, obviously. I appreciate the visit & comment… have a great weekend!. 😀 xx

Loved this post and wow, awesome award winners (including you)! Congrats to all and hope this week is treating everyone kindly.
Off to share so others can find this amazing post (and blog).
Hope all is well, dear Aquileana Big hugs xoxo

My darling, this post is amazing in every way. You take us from psychopomps to Lana Del Ray who I know you love. AND in between there is your awards section. AS ever all your detail is amazing. Thank you so much too for the nominationxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thank you very much, dear She… Glad to know that you enjoyed it… ((Lana´s bonustrack included, obviously)) You are most welcome for the nomination and thanks for thinking of me for the nominations as well. Happy weekend. Love & best wishes ❤ 🙂

This was a most fascinating post dear Aq. I found it interesting that the Psychopomp can be a God, spirit or demon. If they are to guide one to the next world in safe passage, I wouldn’t think the demon would be the best guide. 🙂 ❤ xo Hugs my brilliant friend.

Thank you very much for your visit and comment, dear Debby… Psychopomps are benevolent spirits, and they can even appear to us during our life times, during bad moments, such as Grief or a fallout… Interestingly enough, we may die and be reborn, as our lives go by … I am sure you get these symbolic innuendos. Much love & best wishes 😉

This is an incredible post with a lot of knowledge on souls and guiders. Never heard of psychopomps before, and so interesting Carl Jung has touched upon it. The concept sounds like it plays on binaries – as you said, life/death, conscious/unconscious. It sounds like each state compliment each other, just like how many characters in Greek mythology influence each other to a large. Lovely to hear about Hermes again, and also touching on two sides, two worlds, two aspects. Interesting to hear Chavron asks for donations – perhaps he is trying to get people to realise and show kindness – you get what you pay for, but this also seems to border on greed.

Congrats on so many awards. You are one prolific blogger and so glad to have connected. And thank you for the nomination. Very kind of you. Sending you big hugs across the miles 💙

Hi there linda!,
Thank you very much for your visit and comment…. Delighted to read your feedback… as always you provide clever insights and enjoy our discussions.
Yes, Anima and Animus is all about the integration of The Self in a figure that resumes both principles: female and male… ((Quoting the post: Anima is a man´s feminine nature representing Eros or Love. Whilst Animus is a woman´s male image, representing Logos or Spirit ))… This integration is associated with the figure of Psychopomp, according to Jung as it entails a threshold between Concious and Unconscious, Life and Death. Jung´s ideas are very symbolic, worth noting. He often mentions Hermes (AKA Mercury) but not other Psychopomps. Probably because he liked Alchemy a lot!. Charon is an important figure in the Ancient Greek Underwold, alongside Hades, and Dante, the poet mentions him many times in his book “La Divina Commedia”.
Delighted to nominate you…You totally deserve it… Many hugs to you! 😀

So interesting that the concept of the Psychopomps is so ancient and yet still prevalent today, Aquileana, thanks for this great post – you may be surprised to learn that in Islam, like Catholicism, the archangel Gabriel is the main messenger, but the angel “Azraeel” is even today commonly known as the designated Psychopomp who delivers the souls of the departed.
I loved the layered conceptualization of Jung, too, it’s quite fascinating! Sending hugs and best wishes to you my Dear! 💕💕💕

Hi there dear Kathleen. Thank you very much for dropping in and for the comment… I have read that archangel Gabriel might appear in Judaism, but I didn´t know that it also showed up in Islam… Excellent contribution and thank you for pointing that out… And interesting that Azrael was also a Psychopomp… I remember that the cat of the evil character in the Smurfs was precisely named Azrael. (on a side note, sorry for the childish digression: LOL). Sending love & best wishes my friend 🙂

Hahaha Azraeel in the Smurfs! 😝
My husband laughs when he sees someone older (like him and me lol) driving very cautiously and jokes that they must be seeing Azraeel sitting in the seat beside them… Just biding his time knowing it won’t be long…! Happy weekend dear heart ☺☺☺

As always this is another interesting and engaging post Aqui…what caught my attention is the payment of coins and the requirement of a light heart! There was a time when hearts could be lighter than a feather…I wonder how many such hearts could be found in the modern times!
Thanks for sharing a lovely post and congrats for the awards. Stay blessed dear friend.

Such a good point and beautifully penned poem!… No wonder why you are such a beautiful poet, dear Balroop… Thanks so much for dropping in and for your support… enjoy your weekend … Love & best wishes 🙂

What a fascinating post again, Aquileana. We all know about Hermes and Hedes and the ancient Egyptian Gods of the after death, but there is so much more information here I wasn’t familiar with at all. I loved reading about Hecate, as we all need to know our loved ones are being looked after when they leave us all too soon: we all have those, sadly. One of her images (3-sided) reminded me of La Dama de Elche and I wonder if thre is a connection between the two.
Thank you for sharing once again. 👍❤

Thank you very much dear Fatima!… Thrilled to read your comment and it adds many good points to the discussion. I like what you say about the role of psychopomps as protectors, absolutely: they are benevolent guides, above all. I just googled La Dame D´Elche and I can totally see the similarities. Maybe the Ancient Greeks and the Spanish somehow came through each other, possibly via the Romans!… Happy weekend and all my best wishes 😀 xx

Noteworthy post and theme related to the psychic life and to high level timeless issues through mythology.You’ve extensively embrace the journey into the “underworld” and into the darkest aspects of ourselves.My Hermetic guide often pulls me down into the darkness against my conscious will,yet it feels “He” has the knowledge to bring me back to the daylight world for the benefit of my endless growth …
Kudos,dear Aquileana,you’ve spectacularly presented the other side of death through your spiritual maturity,you’re my Living Psychopomp 🙂 xxx

This is an excellent comment dear Doda… You are right: Psychopoms or hermetic guides as you call them are there to offer us spiritual guidance in different situations during our life time… Sometimes they might even guide us into the Darkness in order to help us become stronger and les heavy, so as to speak… I guess the concepts of Light and Darkness are relative… On a side note I am scorpio, hence related to Pluto… and in the tarot, one of my cards is Death… Which in the tarot means transformation, hence not a drastic thing: just change. I love your comment here and I thank you for the valuable apprroach. Hugs and best wishes 😀 xx

I spontaneously felt like bringing out the role of Psychopomps as guides through the various transitions of life.Moreover,both life and death are transitory processes.Aren’t they?The body is simply the temporary clothing of the soul before completing its transition to the Light of the Divine …
Best to you dear Aquileana 🙂 xxx

Thank you for this interesting post. As someone who is blind (I use a screen reader that converts text into speech and braille enabling me to use a standard Windows computer), I found your descriptive text (accompanying the photographs) extremely helpful as it enabled me to understand them. Its frustrating when images are not described so thanks for taking the time to do so. Kevin

What a GREAT comment…. You totally made my day…. I am so glad you found it interesting and that the way the post and images are organized were helpful to you!—- Thank you very much!. Love & best wishes! 🙂

A discussion and enquiry into our deepest and most profound thought processes. I often think of J.M. Barrie’s thought in Peter Pan “To die will be an awfully big adventure.” We will all face the next journey. Our greatest hope is that there is a guide, a benevolent psychopomp to lead the way into the unknown. Another powerful post, Aquileana – one that reaffirms that mythology is a reflection of the human experience. Thank you!!

Thank you very much for dropping in and for such a valuable comment, my friend. I love J.M. Barrie’ quote… I firmly believe that a good psychopomp will help us cross borders in a smooth way. I also think that the concept might apply to other little deaths in our lives, meaning painful experinces such as Grief or a heartbreak situation… So they are, above all benevolent guides!… Hugs and happy weekend to you Rebecca 😀

Oh my goodness, Aquileana, how kind of you to think of me for the Black Cat Blue Sea Award. I’m afraid I’ll have to decline. I was very tempted to accept, but my blog has always been award-free because we travel so widely and often remotely.

In fact, for the next two months we are travelling overland across Asia through China, Mongolia and Russia. We’re starting in China and I can’t access Google, gmail, maps and much more. Better than the last time we were here and couldn’t get into WordPress either. 🙂

So thanks very, very much for the honour, but I know you’ll understand why I have to decline.

P.S. It took me three days and many attempts to get your blog post to load.

You are most welcome… No problems about nominations and awards: I completely understand you… Yikes!; true about China, I´ve read they have their own Google. But that is not a prolem at all, the important thing is the trip, obviously, you´ll catch up later on! 😀 I hope that you have an amazing time…. Sounds very exciting. Enjoy it. Love & best wishes 🙂 xx

Wow.. What a fascinating read Aquileana.. I have long been fascinated by ‘Spirits’ as you well know.. Learning more of Troth and the underworld Gods very enlightening.
And Carl Jung’s concept was very interesting reading.
And links together many things..
And I love that Poem The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe.
Interesting too, when you describe how the Yin and Yang symbols which mean opposites are indeed just the opposite ends of the same Poles.. One extreme to the other.. Each graduating as you say when night begins at midday when Yang breaks up and changes into Yin..
Something I spoke of recently in a post of my own for we cannot experience one without the other.. Yet it is important to maintain the balance between the two opposites..
A truly wonderful read this morning dear Aquileana..
Your depth of study and knowledge into your Subject here is always so profound, and educational for the reader..
And I never fail to always come away from your posts having learnt something new.

Many thanks dear friend and I wish you a pleasant Happy Weekend to come..
Much LOVE
Sue xxx ❤

Thank you very much dear Sue… The concepts of Yin and yang have always resonated with me… Jung would talk about Anima and Animus as the two forces (male and female) instead of Yin and Yang ( more asian concept)… Clearly he was thinking about a conventional perfect integration of the Self… I wonder what he would say about same sex couples (?) …. Probably he was referring to the energy itself… and yet, I find glitches here.
I love your post, by the way, although I commented in your most recent one, which was a beautiful poem with a powerful message!.
I am thrilled to read your comment and appreciate it… and you a lot!… Love & best wihes to you! 🙂

Many thanks for reading me Aquilean my dear friend.. You have no idea how much that means to me either.. And for once I was pretty early in catching your post LOL and I gave myself a pat on the back for not being a month behind.. haha.. Lots of LOVE.. and special HUGS xxx

Some knew, interesting facts. It is quite obvious that all legends take origin in some kind of a very unified source because the similarities are obvious, too. I don’t think there is any doubt the origin of humans is different from what we were told or had learned so far. Do you know that we have already arrived at multiverse, because universe seems to be the past? The multiverse bubbles, that’s supposedly what there are.

Dear Inese, You are so right!… As I dig deeper into Mythology, I tend to accept Jung´s theroy of the Collective Unconscious…. almost without restrictions, I´d say! 😉 The idea of “Multiverse” is intriguing and interesting. I guess we live in a pesent time which is often projected towards the future, and the present strcitly saying is a sort of “negation of Time”. As to Past, it is just probably a mnemonic footprint. I´ll have to do some online seraching involving Multiverse, as it is a very complex concept and I am telling you my impressions from a very “intuitive” point of view, though… Love & best wishes!. Have a great weekend 🙂

As usual, your post brings to much depth to knowledge I only had a bare bones inkling of until reading your words. I heard of Anubis before, but of course superficially. I also wasn’t aware Hermes was a guide for souls or that Charon charged money. I only knew Charon was the name of Pluto’s moon. As for Hectate, I had to look her up to explain to students an allusion made to her in Hamlet. Thanks as always for the wealth of information 🙂

Thanks so much dear Jeri… I am glad that this post provided you some new facts concerning these underwold gods… It seems Hermes (Mercury) is the best example of Psychopomp, at least according to Jung… Funny how many attributes this God has!… Wishing you a great weekend ahead. Love across the miles! 🙂

I was thinking yesterday that the concepts of Anima and animus seem to work only for “straight couples”, unless we assume Jung was only making refernce to male/female energy… Thank you for dropping in and for the comment… Buen fin de 😀 xx

Dear Aquileana, I thank you once again for nominating me for the BLACK CAT BLUE SEA AWARD.
I don’t know how to send you a link, so, if you want, please refer to my post (“Black Cat Blue Sea Award”), which I have just published.
Best wishes.

Thank you, dear Aquileana, for this great guide about our Psychopomp and Jung’s explanations about anima and animus. It has been a real pleasure for me to read this post and I very much appreciate Herme’s knowledge of WRITING. What would the world be without this art? Many thanks and all the best.:)

Thanks so much dear Martina… So glad to know that you enjoyed the post… I like how Jung´s perfect Self (union of Anima and animus) might be related, according to him to the archetypical figure of the Psychopomp, who basically is a bridge between Consciousness (Light) or Logos: meaning Man. And Unconsciousness (darkness) or Eros; meaning woman… I think he nailed it! 😀 Love & best wishes… Have a beautiful week ahead!

A wonderful learned post, Aqui! 😀 I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Psychopomps and particularly Jung’s interpretations between the conscious and unconscious. Congratulations on all the awards – highly deserved and a treat to listen to your music choices. Wishing you a very special weekend. ❤️🌻

Thanks so much dear Annika… So pleased to know that this post resonated with you… I think that Jung made a good connection… as a Psychopomp is basically a character place in between Light- Life-Consiousness and Darkness-Death Unconsciousness.
And for him Man is Consciousness(Light) or Logos; and Woman Unconsciousness (darkness) or Eros . A clever way to relate the union of opposites, I´d say. Sending love & best wishes … have a great week ahead 🙂 😉

I love the way Jung adpats the concept to define a potential bridge between the Unconscious and Conscious… after all the Conscious have been always related to the Light- male-Logos (hence Life) whilst the Unconscious-female-Eros might be related to the Darkness (Thus Death). It makes much sense to me… Thanks so much dear Sylvie for your clever comment. Love & best wishes! 😀

So true! – Quote- Eros and Logos merely as conceptual aids to describe the fact that woman´s consciousness is characterized more by the connective quality of Eros than by the discrimination and cognition associated with Logos. While, in men, Eros (the function of relationship) is usually less developed than Logos.

Whew!
Although I’ve read this twice, I think I need a third read.
I get that the passage to the underworld, or the life after death is a complicated voyage in the ancient Greek’s thoughts. There are many players in the drama from Hermes to Theron to Hecate to Thanatos & whomever else. Wherever the ideas of the entities came from, there were many acts in the play of “Psychopomps”
The ancient Greeks really liked to figure things out, thoroughly.
Having studied and taught yoga (Hatha and Tantric) in my younger days I understand the concept of Yin and Yang. or Ida and Pingala (notice I put the feminine first :D) Therefore, I get Jung’s thoughts re: Anima and Animus, at least in part.
I want to put it all together into a thought such as: We are all female and male, we all live and die, we all take the journey”… however, I have over simplified.
Nonetheless, I thank you for this highly intellectual article.
You are very amazing, my friend! xoxo ⭐ ❤ ⭐

Excellent comment my friend… You know: I started learning the meanings of the Tarot cards ((Link here: https://twitter.com/aquileana/status/919720810369175557)) and your last words truly resonated with me… The cards of the major arcana basically tell us a story of a very restless man (number zero: The Fool) and his journey until he meets the world in the sense of a higher level of inner evolution…. The story might be ciclical, you can reach that stage and then get back to previous stages or you might just find difficult to evolve… Case in which LIfe will present you, once and over again the same task (test?) until you make it through or pass it.
Well I just thought of that: You won´t believe it but there is even a Yin yang in one of the cards representing the riddle of the sphinxes. You can see the inverted black and white colors in the two sphines here: http://www.learntarot.com/bigjpgs/maj07.jpg The card is the chariot and it represents mastering emotions in order to reach goals. I am all into the tarot 😀 haha. Hopefully I´ll get the Rider Waite deck, the classic deck, anytime soon… But first I will study it. Huge hugs 😀 xoxo

Perhaps Thoth came up with his script late at night when he couldn’t sleep. In those dark lands, is where so much creativity blooms. Speaking of blooming, that quote by Jung is poetry. The rainbow bridge makes me think of Thor and Loki.

Aquileana, this was absolutely a wonderful post connecting elements of mythology to Jung’s theory of the conscious and subconscious. It is fascinating how various religions throughout history have used the concept of the psychopomp to describe how various entities guide the spirits of the dead on their journey to the underworld. As I love Celtic mythology, I have taken the concept of the raven as a messenger that can transverse both the spiritual and physical world in my book as you described above. Thank you for sharing your insight into mythology and showing how it relates to the modern world. Well done, my friend!

HI there dear Linnea…. Thank you so much for your excellent points here…
I think Jung (who used to love Alchemy, among other things) took the archetype of the Psychopomp to a whole different level. Specifically, involving relationships (between Man and Woman and hence between Logos and Eros, Conscious and Consciousness)… I was thinking that most times Consciousness is relate d to Light and Unconsciousness to what it is hidden: I´d say what it is dark… And Life is Light and Death is darkness,,, So all the concepts seem to get intertwined to a certain extent. Jung surely saw this!. Hence his idea of Psychopomp not only as a guider from Life to Death but as a bridge between Consciousness (Man. Animus) and Unconsciousness (Woman. Anima) seem very accurate to me.
I love that I came across the raven as I did the research for this post, and to learn about its importance in Celtic Mythology (I remember your post about Apoollo, the Sun God… And how Apollo is common to Celtic & Greek Mythology, and the raven as his symbol: yes I had that in mind as well).
I will try to include more references from Celtic/Irish Mythology in my posts. Lately I have been attempting to make it broader, and it seems still more intriguing when we find all those convergences and equivalentsamong different cultures/mythologies!).
Sending love & best wishes, my friend 😀

Reblogged this on Apollo's Raven and commented:
The following is a reblog of post entitled “Mythology: Psychopomps, Border Crossers and Guiders of Souls”🌟 dated 10/11/2017 by Aquileana. This was an insightful and informative post that relates mythical elements of the psychopomp to Jung’s theory of the conscious and subconscious. It is fascinating how various religions throughout history have used the concept of the psychopomp to describe how various entities guide the spirits of the dead on their journey to the underworld. As I love Celtic mythology, I have taken the concept of the raven as a messenger that can transverse both the spiritual and physical world in my book Apollo’s Raven that is described in the post. Hope you enjoy article which provides insight on how mythology relates to the modern world.

Thank you very much for sharing… I appreciate it a lot dear Linnea. I love your words. And, as I told you on your blog, I totally thought of you when I read as the raven as Psychopomp and the figure of The Morrigan inIrish Mythology… Delighted to know that you enjoy it!… Love & all my best wishes to you! 😀 Happy new week! 🙂

Thank you for the mention, and congratulations on your awards! All well deserved!
This post is absolutely fascinating, you really outdid yourself. I absorbed every word 🙂 I was also glad to read about The Morrigan, our triple goddess. You mentioned Hermes Trismegistus and I recall a brilliant post you recently wrote. Absolutely enjoyed your article today, as I usually do.
Hope you have a wonderful week ahead. xx

So glad to know that you found it interesting… I much appreciate your feedback here, dear Inese… You are right as to Hermes Trismegistus as it showed up in my post about Hermes as a God of Writing as well: Good memory, my friend. Wishing you an excellent week ahead… Love & best wishes, always xxoo 😀

Thank you very much dear Lavinia… So happy to know that you enjoyed the post… and even Lana´s music… 😀 Excellent…
Oh and yes: I don´t know much of Irish Mythology either. I am trying to include other cultures /mythologies… But the equivalents are not always so straight forward. Anyway it worked out this time, anyway 🙂 Sending love & best wishes ⭐

Quite a wonderful presentation, Amalia! 🙂 My big EGO feels very right-at-home amongst all the above (with special acknowledgement to Thoth and Hermes.) If the final journey begins long before the ship sails, then, well…I’ve found my place once again. Kudos! and hugz, UT ❤

Dear UT; Thank you very much! 😉 I know what you mean. In any case having a benevolent guide to assist us under certain drastic situation which might seem unavoidable, is a good thing, I think… I guess that type of situation/problems could even happen to us while we are alive and here, too… Hugs and happy week ahead to you! 😀 xx 😉

Guiding souls to the afterlife is kind of revelatory to me from a historical context.

Reading this gave me goose bumps – “If their hearts were lighter than the feather, they were allowed to continue on. If their hearts were ‘too heavy with sins’, Anubis would give it to Ammit, a demon known as the ‘Devourer of the Dead’, who would consume it.”

Carrying a canine head and merging with Hermes to become Hermanubis is a fascinating read. And: Interesting how the Greek god Hermes was busy collaborating – with Thoth they became, as Greeks called, Hermapolis (sounds like metropolis: a densely populated industrial and commercial city – perhaps ‘polis’ could be traced to that?).

I love this about Hermes: Hermes was the only Olympian god able to visit Heaven, Earth, and Hades, a fact he enjoyed bragging about to the other gods.

And this is fascinating, too – “they buried their dead with coins to pay the ferryman; this tradition is still retained in many parts of Greece.”

Thank you dear Mahesh, I very much appreciate your words and I am so glad to know that you enjoyed the reading and that you even think this is one of my best posts—> such an honor.
I like the fact that you took time to highlight the paragraphs that resonated the most with you. I´d say your selection is great as It kind of sums up all the post-. Sending love & all my best wishes, always 😀 xx

your post reminds me of Shiva and Parvati. They are usually shown in separte forms, but also as Ardhanarishwara, which is a composite androgynous form of the Hindu God Shiva and his consort Parvati (also known as Devi, Shakti and Uma). Ardhanarishvara is depicted as half male and half female, split down the middle. Ardhanarishvara symbolizes that the male and female principles are inseparable. Shiva is often shown in sitting position meditating. He is the supreme Guru to lead you to the Self, which is in Hinduism beyond Ego. Shiva represents the unmanifest and Shakti (Parvati) the manifest. In the end of one’s sadhana, the mystic path of Self realization, one reaches the unmanifested Atman the endless und timeless “substnce” that once was turned into creation by Shakti, Durga.
Thanks

Interesting to learn about Shiva and Parvati. And I love that you mention Ardhanarishvara as the perfect union… The idea of androgyny being linked to the perfect union of male and union also appears in Carl Jung´s work… In fact I´d say that he might have even refer to it when he wrote about Psychopomp as the brigde betweeen Consciouness and Unconsicousness, Logo s and Eros, Intelligence and nourishing forces, etc… That idea also shows up to make reference to the Union of Opposites, same way that Psychopomp,. You can check it out here: http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Am-Androgynous/2595668 I also think that Plato´s “Ideal Love” goes in the same way. The perfect integration of the Self. Thanks so much for the excellent contribution!. Sending love & best wishes 😀

‘The perfect integration of Anima and Animus, in the elevated role of Psychopomp, represents, somehow a gate to the Unconscious, which somehow reminds us of Plato´s Perfect Ideal of Love, as per his dialogue “Symposium”.
The role of the Anima, and Animus in men, and woman by Jung. The Yin and the Yang etc.

As an interesting commentary in the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas when the apostles question Jesus about, when Jesus saw some children who were taking the breast: he said to his disciples: “These little ones who suck are like those who enter the Kingdom.” They said to him: “If we are little, shall we enter the Kingdom?”

He answer them:

‘When you make the two into one and when you make the inner like the outer and the outer like the inner and the upper like the lower and when you make male and female into a single one so that the male will not be male nor the female be female when you make eyes in place of an eye a hand in place of a hand a foot in place of a foot an image in place of an image then you will enter the kingdom.’

Thanks so much for your excellent, erudite contributions….
The Gnostic Gospel of Thomas´excerpt is perfect and could be read in Jung terms, no dooubt about it… I also thought of Heraclitus and his theory of the unions as I read your comment and before when I wrote this post.
“Opposition brings concord. Out of discord comes the fairest harmony” (Fragments). I really appreciate your words… Sending love & best wishes 😀 xx

A lot to consider in this post, Aquileana. I especially find interesting the similarity between the Greek and the Roman God’s and myths. The Greek and Egyptian combo is new to Me, but of course makes sense when you put it in the context of Greek rule. The Morrigan was a Goddess of death more in the sense of destruction and annihilation and war mongering. In terms of the psychopomp, that role was filled by Donn of the Milesians in Irish Mythology. He wasn’t a Danann, but of the mortal race of man which defeated them and forced them to retreat underground. Considering the way to the Otherworld lies below ground or through water, it’s strange that the role of psychopomp was not attributed to a Danann God. There are elements of Christianity in this myth too, but whether that’s where the story originates, or it was added later is unclear. I wish Irish mythology was as clear as Greek myth is. Legacy of an oral tradition, I suppose. At least some of it still remains, so we are lucky. Congratulations on all your many awards… well deserved indeed! I am having problems with accessing Twitter on my phone for some reason, but I will come back to tweet and share from my laptop later. All the best to you!

Dear Ali,
Thank you very much for your valuable contribution!… It seems the Egyptian corrolaries might be more clear to me when I do research for my posts. Or probably I just fail when it comes to dig into Irish Mythology. Quite surely! 😀 I see what you say as to Donn of the Milesians, and I find it fascinating. Also the fact that you mention the aqueous element and the Christian elements… I´ll definitely will keep on reading about Donn of The Milesians later on tonight. If you want to do something with me, or a guest post (for example about Donn)… next year, please let me know (I already have some posts scheduled, but later on during 2018: still ahead!). Sending love and best wishes 😀 🙂

What a fascinating post, Aquileana. I’d never thought of the relationship of the psychopomps to Jungian archetypes, but it makes perfect sense that he would pick up on such strong and cross-cultural myths. Thanks for the wonderful comparisons.

Thank you very much for dropping in and for the comment, dear Diana!… So glad that you liked the post… I think Jung´s contributions add new layers to the subject. And, I agree with you as to his good choices here as to Psychopomps and his specific comparative cultural study of different mythologies!… Sending love and all my best wishes! 😀

I’ve never heard of psychopomps before so thank you for the fascinating facts. Were only male gods ever selected to take people to the afterlife? I’m doing some research on women in music and how they are trying to break through in certain male-dominated disciplines and I’m wondering if it goes right back to the ancients when some roles were specifically reserved for male gods.

Also, thank you for the nomination I will be back later when I can sit and enjoy your music selections, I’ll have a think of my choices and blog about them on Sunday time allowing 🙂

Hello there Char!, Thanks so much for dropping in and for the comment… Hecate was probbaly the most important female Goddess to play this role, I´d say… But you are right: they are predominantly Male Gods. I see what you see as the women and Music. I am thinking of the Greek pantheon, and I can only think of Apollo and Dionysos at the moment!… No female goddess, except the Muses sho up in my mind! 😀 No pressures on nominations: proceed as you want. Sending love and all my best wishes 😀

I’m fascinated by the archival gods who are in charge of crossing boundaries, existing in liminality/between worlds. Their mere existence gives much food for thought. What’s possible in the places between?

Hi there dear Georgia,
Thanks so much for droppin in and for sharing your valuable thoughts here!. I love the idea of “in between worlds”… If Psychopomps represent the bridge between Consciouness and Unconsiouness, they could well represent the Subconciousness 😉 Above all is about the bridge or the threshold, so the figure trascends the in between as it allows integration
The space in between is probably a space not only od transition, but of judgement, I´d say… Sendig love & best wishes! 😀

Dear Aquileana,
as you know all good we make for people returns back. So, here is my award tribute to you. This time it’s Brotherhood of the World Award for it’s difficult to find more spiritual blog dedicated to beauties of the past.

Aquileana what a great deal of intense research you have done with this article. i so appreciate the outline at the beginning. Having grown up Catholic your inclusion of the Gabriel as an example really assisted me in grasping the concept. Also fascinating to include Jung. Superb post my dear. Love and best wishes to you!

Thanks so much dear Sue… Delighted to know that you enjoyed it!… Yes, as to Archangel Gabriel. I was pleased to find him as well among these “intermediary” spiritual guides. I really appreciate your comment, my friend… Have a great weekend. Love & best wishes 😀 🙂

You have surpassed yourself in this post. Given the near universality of psychopomps across all cultures and religions I think Mr Jung is on pretty solid ground with his interpretation, well as solid as metaphysical ground can be. Great post Amalia. Best wishes.

Thanks so much Mr Cake… Great to know that you enjoyed this post… I think Jung was a very original and eclectic man… His idea of Psychopomp as a bridge between female-male forces, and Consciousness/Unconsciousness is fascinating, I think… Love & best wisshes to you! 😀 xx

Thanks so much for your comment. And you left me thinking… I searched for it on Google. And here is what I found (specifically answering to your question):
“Charon is the ferryman of Hades who carries souls of the newly deceased across the rivers Styx and Acheron that divided the world of the living from the world of the dead”… It seems his tasks applied to both rivers, because The Styx is a general name for those two rivers, alongside three more:
“The rivers Styx, Phlegethon, Acheron, Lethe, and Cocytus all converge at the center of the underworld on a great marsh, which sometimes is also called the Styx”. (Source: Wikipedia. Search: Styx)
I much appreciate the comment and interest!: Love & best wishes 🙂

Reblogged this on BOOKS & MUSIC and commented:
Had to share this post, folks. It’s a gem for the fantasy writers out there, not to mention those to like to add a bit of hmph to their thrillers! Tee-hee-hee. Lots of info folks… get those cogs turning!

Thanks so much, dear Yvonne.. It is great to ‘see’ you here. I appreciate the visit and comment and I am thrilled to know you think this post is engaging… And also that you enjoyed Lana’s unreleased songs (I think she should release them in a future album, BTW) sending love ❣⭐️❣

I’ve never heard of a psychopomp before, but now would love to be able to sit down with one over a beer and hear their stories, preferably in about 60 years 🙂 I like the description that they are non-judgemental, and how I think this is a trait that is missing in many people these days. Your ability to bring to like the mythical world is always a highlight I look forward to ~ cheers to a wonderful day Aquileana 🙂

Thanks so much for the dropping in and out for the comment.. I am pleased to know that you enjoyed it. I think Jung’s approach when it comes to Psychopomps is clever and rad at the same time. Sending love and best wishes ⭐️✨⭐️

So much to digest in this rich post. I like the introduction which outlines the main points of the essay. The afterlife looms large in all cultures. I would most definitely trust a dog to be my Psychopomp.

Thanks so much for dropping in and for the comment, dear Irina… I´d definitely feel safe with Anubis…. I am with you.
Hermes would be my first choice, though…. Having so many attributes and being the God of Writing and messengers of the Gods… He couldn´t go wrong, I am guessing…. 😀 Hugs and all my best wishes! 🙂

I always learn something from your posts, Aquileana. Even on re-reading, there are so many levels of meaning.

I did not realize that Hermes or the Archangel Gabriel qualified as “psychopomps” (a term new to me). I wonder whether Ammit did not capture some essential truth, that destruction of the ego is more threatening to us even than eternal suffering. How sad the Hecate should have been accompanied by dead children. The image is haunting.

As for Jung, I did not realize he was so poetically inclinded.

Once again, where do you find your illlustrations!? I have come across no other website as lush. They make the journey of discovery exquisite.

Hi dear Anna,
Thanks so much for the visit and for sharing your insights. It´s always interesting to read your comments!.
I didn´t know that Archangel Gabriel qualified as “psychopomp” either. Totally new for me… The word Psychopomp is quite odd if we read it “In English”, being a compound (Psycho and Pomp) which falls into a total different meaning! 😉
Hecate is an intriguing and quite gloomy Goddess: yes… And I was happily surprised when I read original excerpts by Jung in regard to this topic. It kind of reminded me of Heidegger as they both write in a very poetic way.
Sending love and best wishes! 🙂

A timely post insofar as the world seems to be going through a series of shocks and transitions, with an intensified search for guides who can open up fresh vistas. Our minds are the theatres where the drama plays out and art becomes a kind of quest for new meanings. Well, you’ve certainly got me thinking … 🙂

I totally get what you see…. It is an age of transitions and as Nuclear Threats scalate, people tend to reach out…. to look for guidance.
A very interesting commnet, dear Dave… Thanks so much for dropping in and sharing your thoughts… Have a great week! 🙂

This is the second time in a week that I’ve come across Hecate in a blog post. Crossroads, transitions, borderlands…if any places are in need of a guardian/guide, it’s these. And Jung…is there no end to his contributions to the world? He is so meticulous and somehow holistic at the same time. I’m not surprised to learn of his interpretation of the psychopomp. Nothing escaped his gaze. This was a delight to read. Thank you, as always, for your hard work. 💜

Hi there, dear Julie, thanks so much for dropping in and for the comment…. I agree with you as to Carl Jung… I find his work fascinating…. the way he uses allegories and ancient characters (Gods/Goddesses) is mind-blowing…. He is a thinker… and a poet, I´d say. Hopefully, I´ll bring him to the scene anytime soon!….Love and best wishes. Have a great week ahead! 😉 ⭐

Thank you for this. I write a lighthearted fantasy about psychopomps as an aspect of a celestial economy where souls (in transit between lives) are currency — and are released to reincarnate when they are used to cast spells. I’d love to know what someone informed on the topic thinks! The bottom part of Chapter 2 references souls and psychopomps in my world. I’d love to know what someone informed on the topic thinks! https://andycrowley.com/chapter-2/

My apologies for this really late comment, Aquileana, but I’ve hardly been on my blog this year and I’m behind with everyone! It seems I’ve only missed this one post of yours though, and I’m making amends for that now. 😀
Your post is extremely thorough and brings in many concepts and combinations that I had to read it twice to take them all in. The idea of guiders of souls to the underworld has always fascinated me, although I confess, I haven’t looked further than Greek mythology. The combinations of Greek and Egyptian gods is interesting, too. I also enjoyed your closing section on Carl Jung’s ideas on Psychopomp and the related concepts. I can see why you compare the Anima and Animus concept to the Yin Yang symbol.
Wonderful post, Aquileana. I’m sorry I didn’t find it sooner. ❤ 😀

Thanks so much for dropping in, dear Millie… I appreciate the visit a lot… You are right as to Jung´s contributions. I think he was a bright mind. I like to find similarities when it comes to Myhtology, no matter the cultures. It seems you can many times find analogies between Greek, Roman and Egyptian Gods/Goddesses. I should try to dig further into Irish Mythology, though… But at least here I could also include an irish equivalent, in the shape of the Morrigan as a Psychopomp. Excellent to have you over here, MIllie… Sending love & best wishes. Happy weekend 😀 🙂

Hello Aquileana WOW ! this is such a wonderful post, but I will have to come back and read it again so as to grasp it all..The gods have always fascinated me. You have a way of explaining them which makes it more interesting and of course those wonderful pictures are a pleasure to see. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

I’m reading this for a second time. I’m studying Hindu Kali at the moment and notice how often she’s accompanied by jackals or other kinds of dogs, guardians of the cremation ground, scavengers who clear death and make way for new beginnings. The images you’ve shared are, as always, wonderful and add another layer of depth. I didn’t know Anubis merged with Hermes, but it makes sense. They’re both at home and guides in the dark realms. Thanks for adding this connection and so much more.

I didn´t know much about Kali, so I looked for the word. She certainly has a creepy appareance with her necklace of heads skirt of arms and knife full of blood. It seems paradoxic that while she represents violence, she is also a symbol of motherly-love!. I can see why she might appeared accompanied by jackals and dogs, as they are most times guardians of Gods/Goddesses associated with Death and Violence. Hermanubis is a powerful hybrid God, I´d say… A result of relatively mediate, clear influences. Thank you very much for dropping in dear Elaine. It´s great to read your words here. Love & best wishes 😀